Her name is Rose. She’s a 26-year-old Ugandan mother of three. She was 10 when a group of heavily armed rebels, who called themselves “The Holy Spirit Movement,” crashed into her grandmother’s home. When the grandmother pleaded for mercy, the old lady was bludgeoned to the ground. Rose was pulled screaming into a world of unspeakable savagery.

She won’t look at my face. She puts her hands absently to her arms, neck and mouth. These gestures are repetitive and distracting. She speaks barely above a whisper in her native Acholi language. She is telling me her story today at the urging of Sister Rosemary of Ste. Monica’s school in Gulu. Sister Rosemary interprets.

In the three years Rose was a captive in the African bush, she gave birth to a son and a daughter. When she was rescued, she was pregnant with a third child, a daughter. The horrors she was forced to do and witness can only be briefly described here.

Rose was dragged into the bush and bound together with eight other girls ranging in age from 8 to 15. There were also 10 boys ages 8 to 16. These children were driven day and night with very little food and water toward the Sudan, further and further from their home. One of the little girls died before the group arrived at a rebel staging area. It was here that each girl was assigned to a soldier.

One girl refused to have sex with her assigned rebel and she became an example to the others. As the other children watched, she was beaten to death. To magnify the horror of the “execution,” the other children were forced to beat the child’s dying body.

One other girl tried to protest and she met the same fate. There was no other resistance.

The boys and girls were forced to become soldiers and fight for The Holy Spirit Movement, which ultimately came to be called The Lord’s Resistance Army. They were trained to use weapons, treat wounds, set up ambushes. And kill. When they were not fighting, the girls were expected to steal, prepare food and otherwise see to the needs and desires of the men. Frequently, some of the abducted children were forced to participate in unspeakably barbaric rituals involving the bodies of slain combatants. These cannot be described here.

Rose was moved from the front line when she became pregnant. During this entire period, Rose yearned for her own death and those of her children.

She gained her freedom when the Ugandan forces began to gain the upper hand in Gulu. But she had been told by the rebels that government troops would torture her because she had taken part in the campaign. Consequently, one set of terrors was replaced by another.

She and her children were taken to an army barracks being assured that they would be treated kindly. She did not believe and remained in a state of profound fear.

An understanding barracks’ commander arranged to have only non-uniformed personnel actually assisting Rose and her children. Gradually Rose began to feel safe and when her third child was born, she began to have hope.

But she could only stay so long in the army camp. Ultimately she had to find a way to make a living in an economy devastated by more than 20 years of civil war. Her circumstances were desperate. Her family was all dead except for her grandmother who never fully recovered from the beating she received when Rose was abducted. Rose had no education and no skills other than those taught by the rebels.

She and her children were starving. In despair, Rose contemplated killing her own children to end their suffering and ending her own by suicide.

Her story came to Sister Rosemary’s ears. Rosemary was quick to gather Rose in and teach her to knit. Sister Rosemary supplies material which Rose crafts into beautiful baskets. Sister Rosemary buys these and sells them to earn money to help Rose survive and provide for her children. Two of Rose’s children attend school with Sister Rosemary at Ste Monica’s.

Even today, Rose’s situation is precarious. She is totally dependent on Sister Rosemary and Ste. Monica’s, but she is one of thousands in the same uncertain state. This tragic story is repeated in the lives of thousands of women and children who were savagely victimized by men claiming to be working on “The Lord’s” behalf.

When I asked Rose what I could do to help, all she requested was prayer. I promised there would be prayer and more. We’re going to see to it that Rose and others receive a dose of humble Oklahoma generosity.

I’m Hink and I’ll be calling on you.